Music and the Renaissance Period essays

Music and the Renaissance Period essays The word "renaissance" means "rebirth" in French. It is an ideal selection of word choice used to describe the period in [European] history dated 1450-1600. This era was preceded by the economic, social and cultural stagnation of the Middle Ages. It was during the Renaissance period that artistic, social, scientific and political thought turned from one of religious orientation to that of a secular one. Momentous circumstances such as the invention of gunpowder and the development of the compass contributed greatly to the spread of the spirit of adventure and change. The proliferating economy allowed for the merchant class to be patrons to music and thereby increases the opportunities for playing for the musicians. The greatest Renaissance contribution, however, was due to the introduction of the printing press. This single event allowed for a musical explosion and a flourishing for musicians of this time! This era created a variety of musical styles for sacred and secular music; a cappella is a type of vocal music without instrumental accompaniment. The method used to engage this style in polyphony is known as continuous imitation. The majority of church music was written this way because instruments were not allowed these sacred houses. Secular music contained an expressive method known as word painting. This is best described as music that reflects the meaning of the word (e.g. up and down in the written piece would be sounded in the high and low sounds). Cantus firmus, or fixed melody, combined with polyphonic writing offered the composers many possibilities to create elaborate vocal music. Thus numerous motets, polyphonic works with four or five voice parts singing one religious text, became popular in the sacred arena. The composers of the early Renaissance included Guillaume Dufay, Johannes Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht, and Josquin des Prez. All of them produced numerous glorious masses, motets, and hymns. Josquin des Prez comp...